Piquet To Quit After Indy Debacle

June 02, 1992

INDIANAPOLIS — Nelson Piquet, one of the greatest Grand Prix drivers of all time, says he is retiring from auto racing after a crash in practice for the Indianapolis 500 left him with multiple fractures of his lower legs and feet.

``Racing is over for me,`` Piquet said in an interview published in Monday`s Indianapolis Star. ``I had a very wonderful career. Now I just want to be able to enjoy life . . . and walk again.``

At his request Piquet was able to leave Methodist Hospital without fanfare on Monday and move into an Indianapolis apartment that will serve as his home while he receives therapy for his broken bones and skin grafts.

At the Indianapolis Speedway on May 7, Piquet`s 1992 Lola-Buick V6 hit the outside wall in Turn 4 after turning a lap of 212.304 m.p.h. on his previous circuit.

His injuries have required four operations. Doctors have said he may be walking again within six weeks. Metal rods holding his broken bones together still protrude through his left calf.

``For 20 years I`ve raced and this is really the only bad thing that`s ever happened to me, so I have no complaints,`` said Piquet, 39, who has 23 Formula I victories in 204 starts. ``I don`t care about driving race cars again, I just want to walk.``